EVEN Cristiano Ronaldo has so much magic dust to sprinkle on Old Trafford.
He had used up his week’s quota with that dramatic injury time winner in the midweek against Villarreal.
With Manchester United desperate for three points to go top of the table, however briefly that might be.
Eyebrows were raised when he started on the bench, not lest his own no doubt.
He came on just short of the hour with United ahead but soon after Everton equalised and the goalscoring legend could just not get on the ball enough to recover the situation.
After the defeat to Aston Villa the previous weekend that is five points dropped at home in a season when you just cannot afford slip ups such is the quality at the top end of the table.
United had gone ahead through Anthony Martial in the 43rd minute before Andros Townsend grabbed a 65th minute equaliser.
Everton thought they had snatched it five minutes from time when Yerry Mina turned home a Tom Davis cross but VAR correctly ruled he was just ahead of the ball when it was delivered and offside.
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Everton had arrived on the back a fine start to their league season matching United’s record of four wins and a draw and one defeat.
The visiting fans that chanted ‘you’re’ just a fat Spanish waiter’ at Rafa Benitez when Everton lost here 4-0 in pre-season might now have even started to have a grudging respect for the former Liverpool boss.
Indeed their three straight wins at home was their best opening to league campaign at Goodison Park since 1989 when they really used to be good.
They were not sitting back here either although it would be United with the first chance, and what a chance it was.
There have been question marks over Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s delivery but there was nothing wrong with his cross to the far post after six minutes that gave Martial a clear far post header.
Unfortunately for him he steered it a good three foot wide.
Everton responded and when the in-form Townsend delivered a right wing free kick with pace, Michael Keane’s flick header feel just wide of the far post.
Back at the other end and a great ball in from Fred found Edinson Cavani and his downward header was well stopped by England number one Jordan Pickford.
Wan-Bissaka was having one of his better games for United having missed the midweek Champions League game at home to Villarreal due to suspension.
His dash back and block with an outstretched leg when Abdoulaye Doucare threatened to add to his two goals so far this season was a highlight.
We looked to be heading for a half-time stalemate when Martial struck.
It was superbly worked with Mason Greenwood having dropped deep into a central position to pick up the ball turn and feed Bruno Fernandes.
His ball out to Martial looked to be short of pace but it was in fact perfectly weighted into the stride of the Frenchman who released a powerful drive with his right instep.
At first it looked an unstoppable shot but replays showed that it flew threw the grasp of Pickford, even with a slight deflection on it he should have done better.
It was only the second game in 25 that Martial had found the net.
In a bid to press home the advantage Ole Gunnar Solskjaer made an early switch in the second-half bringing Ronaldo and Jadon Sancho into the action for Martial and a less than happy looking Edinson Cavani.
It did not have the desired as Everton equalised.
Solskjaer had bemoaned how open United were on Wednesday to Villarreal’s breaks and such was the case again here as Townsend capitalised.
It started with a poor Fernandes corner and was worked forward at speed from Abdoulaye Doucoure to Demerai Gray and back to Doucoure.
Townsend’s movement was brilliant as he slid to his right to receive the final ball in space and despatch a shot past David de Gea into the far bottom corner.
What a free signing the 30-year-old has been after his contract ran out at Crystal Palace.
Linking back up with his former boss at Newcastle he has been in inspired form and this was the eighth goal in nine appearances he has been directly involved in this season so far, five of them goals.
Solskjaer looked to his bench again this time bringing on Paul Pogba in a hope the tide could be turned back their way.
It couldn’t in fact they got a let off through VAR, more points dropped.
At the final whistle Ronaldo was first down the tunnel, not happy.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
